Small PocketPair vs Raiser in short-handed Question.

[RocketManJames]

You have a small pocket pair... 22-55 in the Big Blind. The game is 6-handed Limit Hold'em.

Which of the following situations do you prefer? I know you might not like either, or you might like both, but which do you prefer, and provide an estimate of how much more you like one over the other. And, providing why would be nice too.

1) UTG raises and everyone folds to you.
2) All fold to button, who raises, SB folds, and it's on you.

Thanks.

-RMJ

[jba]

I'll take 2, because I'm going to win the hand more often. I have no idea how to quantify that into how much more.

and I don't like either situation.

[mudbuddha]

yeah
low pockets are not fun in limit.

[RocketManJames]

Understood... neither is scenario is really great. But, if you had to choose, which do you prefer?

A buddy and mine debated this for a little bit, and I really couldn't say who's argument was stronger or more correct. So, I decided to get more opinions.

-RMJ

And say I prefer 1.

Yes, you can win the hand in Scenario 2 much more easily. But in Situation 1, if you call, and you hit your set you can win a ton of $$$, as presumably the guy in Scenario 1 has a strong hand. i.e. he has AK, you have 44. Assuming he's not a shortstack, if you call, you're out say 100 (or whatever his raise is) when the flop comes out wrong. But u can take him down for a ton if you do hit.

Also, if the flop comes out rags, you can probably take the hand as well.

All about risk v. reward. Implied pot could be huge in Scenario 1.

oops, i missed the part about it being Limit. Yes, Situation 2 is vastly preferable, largely because the opp's probably got something nice in Situation 1.

This seems like a simple question. Would you rather be against a raise from under the gun who has all other players to respond after him or against a button raise after everybody else folds. Surely, you realize that UTG more than likely has the better holding and that the button raise is probably a steal. I fold to 1) and so I only lose my big blind, while I would call 2) and could stand to lose some money or I might even fold to 2) as well. I would prefer these situations in the following ratio.
1) 15%
2) 85%

I guess what I'm saying is that I'd rather be heads up with an all folded to button raiser than heads up against an UTG raiser.

[RocketManJames]

What you said is exactly how I feel about this...

The other side argued that #1 would be the preferred situation, because the range of hands you could put the opponent on was much tighter. In situation #2, you were only sure that the button had two overs, making it more difficult to play the hand.

Like I said, I can see how to argue both sides, but I am not that sure which argument is stronger, but personally, I agree with your logic.

-RMJ

[Duke]

I hate both spots.

I think the vast majority of the time you're up against 2 unpaired overs in both spots. You can narrow the range of hands for the UTG guy, but not for the button guy.

If I'm going to play a hand like that heads up out of position, I prefer to have an idea of where my opponent is at. I can't do that with a button open-raiser.

~D

low limit makes it too difficult to play the low pair.